Rep. John Larson (D-CT) urged his colleagues to "do what's fair" and put aside partisan bickering for the sake of the American people as the shutdown of the federal government kicked in early Tuesday morning.

"The American people in the greatest land, the greatest country in the world deserve their government open," he said in a fiery one-minute speech from the House floor. "And they deserve to know where their members stand. Do you stand with your country, do you stand for your country, or do you want to take it down this evening?"

"Stand up for your country," he yelled. "Stand up for America. Stand with us this evening and keep this government going, in the name of fairness."